Two nearby residents – an elderly man and a 65-year-old woman – were taken to Aintree hospital as a precaution after suffering smoke inhalation.

Firefighters continued damping-down operations yesterday after bringing the blaze under control.

Mr Bilsborrow, 65, who runs the Culmac business with co-director Val Hartley, said: “At this stage we’ve absolutely no idea how the fire started.

“We’ve not been able to get inside the building because firefighters are still at the scene. But I know it’s not going to be a pretty sight.

“I can’t believe it and I don’t think it’s sunk in yet. I’ve been awake all night and all through the day dealing with the issues of the fire.

“It’s been incredibly traumatic for all of us. The police and fire brigade did an incredibly brave job. People have a tendency to take them for granted but in situations like that you see the best of people.”

His voice trembling with emotion, Mr Bilsborrow described how the business had become an integral part of the close-knit community in Walton Village over the past 40 years.

He said: “I’ve worked amongst some of the best people in Merseyside. I’ve watched children grow up and watched people marry and die.

“There were people crying and hugging me saying ‘you’re not going to leave the village?’

“We will do our best to put things right. We have a responsibility to our staff and I’ve had so many kind offers it’s almost beyond my comprehension.”

Around 15 people are employed at the Culmac store. There are also two other outlets in Thornton and in Prescot Road, Old Swan.

A Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service spokesman said the cause of the fire was still under investigation and the building was being assessed by a structural engineer.